Holiday Bowl to Feature B1G, Pac-12 Matchup

By NU Athletic Communications

| 06/24/2013

San Diego, CA - The Holiday Bowl will enter a new era in 2014 as it begins a six-year partnership with the Big Ten Conference and extends its current relationship with the Pac-12 Conference for six years, bowl officials announced today.

The Holiday Bowl will have the second pick from the Pac-12 after the College Football Playoff structure per selection guidelines established by the Conference. The Alamo Bowl has the first selection. The Big Ten team will be determined after discussion between bowl and conference officials to create the best possible matchup.

“We are entering a new and exciting time for the Holiday Bowl,” said Bill Geppert, 2013 Bowl president. “The Holiday Bowl has a rich history as ‘America’s Most Exciting Bowl Game’ and this new agreement lays the foundation for continued success. In the ever-changing world of college football, we are excited to begin this new chapter that will no doubt provide a huge economic impact to San Diego as our community welcomes thousands of college football fans to our beautiful city every December.”

Included in the Big Ten agreement is the stipulation that the Holiday Bowl will not have the same team in its game more than twice during the six-year span. The Holiday Bowl previously enjoyed a relationship with the Big Ten from 1992-94 and conference teams have played in nine games, beginning with a victory by Indiana in 1979. Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Nebraska, Ohio State and Penn State have played in the Holiday Bowl, including when the Wolverines faced BYU for the national championship in 1984.

“The Big Ten Conference is pleased to return to the Holiday Bowl in San Diego,” Big Ten Commissioner James E. Delany said. “During the bowl evaluation process we heard our Directors of Athletics and head coaches tell us that the Holiday Bowl was a reward destination they wanted the conference to be a part of. The Holiday Bowl has a long history and tradition of managing bowl games that have tremendous appeal to participating teams and their fans, and we are excited by the opportunity to return to an area of Southern California that has such a strong and vibrant Big Ten football following.”

The Holiday Bowl is entering its 16th year as a partner with the Pac-12. Eight of the current 12 teams have appeared in the game.

“The Pac-12 has been a tremendous partner through the years,” said Geppert. “The enthusiasm of their fans is matched only by the high-octane entertainment their teams have provided. We’re ecstatic to continue this relationship.”

"The Holiday Bowl has been a long-time valued partner of the Pac-12 and we are grateful to continue our relationship with the bowl game and the city of San Diego,” said Pac-12 Commissioner Larry Scott. "There has always been a buzz about this game throughout our Conference and we anticipate this new partnership with the Big Ten will provide many exciting and memorable games for years to come."

The Holiday Bowl, televised on ESPN, currently matches the second selection from the Pac-12 with the fourth selection from the Big 12, after BCS matchups. The 2013 game, which will celebrate its 36th year, is set for Monday, Dec. 30 with a 7:15 p.m. PT kickoff. Tickets go on sale to the general public Aug. 12th.

The mission of the non-profit San Diego Bowl Game Association is to generate tourism, exposure, economic benefit and civic pride for San Diego and its citizens by presenting the nation’s most exciting and entertaining bowl games and festivals of events. Since its inception in 1978, the San Diego Bowl Game Association has created an impact of $668 million.